Kane County Reporter

Senator Don DeWitte recently presented a bipartisan session review to the St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce, alongside Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora). This marked their second collaborative update this summer for their shared communities. DeWitte and Holmes explained that approximately 80% of legislation in the Senate receives unanimous support from both parties, 10% gains bipartisan backing, and only 10% results in party-line votes.

"We also discussed bills we worked on together, bills we disagreed on, and issues we both believe still require more work," DeWitte stated. Topics included ethics, pension reform, public safety, and local government support. The senators emphasized respectful discourse even when they disagreed.

DeWitte also expressed gratitude to Illinois Tollway officials for serving 55 constituents at his recent IPASS on Demand event in St. Charles. "I cannot thank officials from the Illinois Tollway enough for the excellent service they provided," he said. Another event is scheduled for September 9 at Algonquin Village Hall.

Upcoming events hosted by DeWitte include a Mobile DMV on August 7 in West Dundee and various other community services through October.

In political developments, DeWitte criticized lawmakers preparing to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris for president after President Joe Biden's exit from the race. He noted that these same lawmakers recently passed legislation to prevent post-primary candidate appointments—a process now being used to nominate Harris. Governor Pritzker signed this bill into law swiftly, which was later ruled unconstitutional by a Sangamon County Judge.

Senate Republicans have introduced Senate Bill 3964 to restore $4 million in funding for soil and water conservation districts cut from Governor Pritzker’s budget. This bill aims to reallocate funds through the Partners for Conservation Fund to ensure continued environmental stewardship.

The FBI has issued a warning about an increase in “jugging” robberies in Illinois—where criminals target individuals withdrawing cash from ATMs. The agency advises residents to remain vigilant around ATMs and monitor their surroundings closely.

An additional $18 million has been allocated for the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, targeting underserved groups including people of color, veterans, and women. This funding aims to prepare participants for registered apprenticeship programs across approximately 35 new initiatives statewide.

Lastly, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced a $42 million Regional Site Readiness Program aimed at enhancing industrial site readiness across Illinois. Planning grants up to $150,000 and Capital Ready grants up to $3 million are available until October 21, 2024.

For more information on these programs and upcoming events, residents are encouraged to visit respective websites or contact relevant offices directly.